Grace Bible Church founder Bishop Mosa Sono is afraid.
He
is afraid of doing anything stupid or becoming bigheaded, lest he
loses all that he has invested in from the time he reformed at 17.
He studied theology at 18, became a pastor of his own church at 22, with a congregation of 35 people.
Today
he oversees 15 church branches with congregations numbering several
thousands in Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and Western Cape.
“Just
too many people have bought into the vision of this church,” Sono says
pensively on the last day of a three-day celebration of the church ’ s
31st anniversary in Pimville, Soweto, at the weekend.
Activities included a threeday conference, praise and worship, motivational talks and a leadership seminar.
“Most
of them [the church ’ s pastors] have given selflessly of their
skills, time and service to see us fulfil this God-ordained vision and
mission of making available the church where all are welcome, offering
hope, enlightenment and a better life.”
Sono
was speaking to Sowetan after he had shared the stage with guest
speakers and pastors from the Grace Bible Church ’ s 14 satellite
churches in Central Western Jabavu, Pimville, Dobsonville, Moletsane,
Naledi, Protea Glen, Brackenhurst, Carletonville, Orange Farm, Midrand,
Witpoortjie, Cape Town, Polokwane and Port Elizabeth.
Sharing
the secret behind more than half of his congregants being young
people, Sono said it was all on account of being progressive and
speaking in ways with which youths were familiar and most comfortable.
“We
have the facilities where both young and old feel at home and we cater
for all ages in one sermon each time, fusing into our praise and
worship sessions genres including rap, hip-hop and conventional hymns,
and ensuring that children – from toddlers to youths in their 20s – all
return home fulfilled,” Sono says.
“Youths
do not mind being challenged about certain realities, including living
a pure and holy life, because – unbeknown to most of us – young people
have a hunger for God.
“An
example is a young man who is now an entrepreneur who told me today
[Sunday] that he had heard me preach the word of God to him and his
fellow prisoners a while ago, and he decided to transform his life and
is now a member of our church.”
Read more at the Sowetan, Sept 23, 2014
Follow us on Facebook:
PEFM 87.6
Follow us on Twitter:
@PEFMnews
Listen to us on streaming internet radio at: Tunein and from our website at: PEFM
International Correspondent Scott Congdon can be reached at:
Mail: scottcpefm@gmail.com
Phone: 010 500 8203 (in South Africa) (Available 3-5pm SAST weekdays)
011 27 10 500 8203 (calling from outside of South Africa) (Available 3-5pm SAST weekdays)
*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.
Follow us on Facebook:
PEFM 87.6
Follow us on Twitter:
@PEFMnews
Listen to us on streaming internet radio at: Tunein and from our website at: PEFM
International Correspondent Scott Congdon can be reached at:
Mail: scottcpefm@gmail.com
Phone: 010 500 8203 (in South Africa) (Available 3-5pm SAST weekdays)
011 27 10 500 8203 (calling from outside of South Africa) (Available 3-5pm SAST weekdays)
*Note: Views expressed in the commentaries on this website are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of PEFM 87.6or our presenters or correspondents. Quotes are obviously the opinion of the source. A quote is just a quote and these are offered without comment. Use of a news story or commentary is not an endorsement of the source website.
© PEFM 87.6
No comments:
Post a Comment